CCC campus to be site of Sports Hall of Fame

Officials of the Westminster Rotary Club announced the creation of the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame yesterday in a news conference at Carroll Community College, where the hall of fame will be.

The five charter members -- Charles Duppins, Charles W. Havens, Earl Hersh, George L. Stem and the late Herbert E. Ruby Jr. -- will be inducted during a benefit banquet on Jan. 19 in the college's atrium.

"They were judged on their athletic accomplishment and on what kind of honor they brought to Carroll County," said Dwight Dingle, president-elect of the Westminster Rotary Club.

"The idea has been kicked around in the county for a long time."

Arnold "Skip" Amass spearheaded the project, which took six months to organize.

"So many young people today take as sports heroes the wrong type of person," Mr. Amass said.

He said the hall of fame is an attempt to hold up the kind of hero young people should emulate, someone who has given something back to the community in addition to attaining athletic success.

Helen Utz, president of the Westminster Rotary Club, said she hopes the induction will become a yearly project.

The charter members were chosen from more than 25 names considered by a selection committee of two Rotarians and 11 other county residents, Mr. Dingle said.

He said the members of the selection committee would remain anonymous, "so nobody shoots their windows out."

Candidates for the hall of fame must be at least 21 years old and retired from active participation in their field of accomplishment for at least five years. They must have resided in Carroll County for at least five years before their accomplishments or have been active in their field of accomplishment for at least 20 years. Teams may not be considered for induction.

One person may be honored posthumously each year.

The inductees will be honored with plaques in the Multi-Purpose Building at the community college.

"The college is honored to have been chosen for the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame," and its selection highlights its role as a community college, said Dr. Joseph F. Shields, the college's president.

Mr. Amass said the Rotary Club is grateful to organizers of sports halls of fame in Frederick and Anne Arundel counties for their assistance.

He said he hopes the club will sell 200 to 250 tickets to the January banquet.

"I look for it to become a very prestigious event in Carroll County," Mr. Amass said.

Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Rotary Club projects such as Christmas in April and scholarships at Westminster High School, Ms. Utz said.

Several sports personalities plan to attend, said Mr. Dingle, including an Oriole and someone from the NASCAR circuit, but their names have not been released.

Tickets for the banquet are $40 and may be purchased at the Pro Image, Travel Agents International, the Treat Shop, Armacost Sporting Goods Store and Wilson's Sports Inc. in Westminster; Hutchinson Flowers in Eldersburg; and Four Seasons Fitness Center in Hampstead.